Jeff Fleming, the acting director of the Des Moines Art Center, is running the museum while a search committee looks for a permanent director to replace Susan Lubowsky Talbott, who resigned in January. Fleming worked for several East Coast arts institutions before landing in Des Moines six years ago. During his time here, he has watched the people of Greater Des Moines take more pride in the city, and he sees the interest in development projects, along with concentrated efforts to draw in families and young professionals, as launching pads for the Art Center to redefine itself as a central meeting place, marketplace and more.

How did your interest in art develop?

My parents absolutely encouraged my brothers and me to draw on our passions. I always had the freedom to go my own way, and they allowed me the opportunity to take art lessons very early on. I had a wonderful teacher. We grew up in a very small town. I don’t know if this is true for everyone, but it was true for me, that when you grow up in an isolated area, it fosters the imagination and interest in what is beyond your own doors. I can’t think of a better way than through the arts to learn about the larger world.

What art skills did you focus on during your education?

Both of my degrees – my B.F.A and my M.F.A – are in studio arts (painting and drawing).

Did you try the starving-artist life?

Absolutely. But I didn’t ever really think I would do that full time. I always wanted to work in the arts, but it was a matter of figuring out what path to take.

After working up and down the East Coast for places such as the Metropolitan Opera and the Smithsonian Institution and spending 16 years at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in your home state of North Carolina, why did you decide to move to Des Moines?

This institution has a splendid reputation and is world class in every way. Its collection is phenomenal. Its building are exemplary. Still, after six years, walking through the buildings, I feel how absolutely lucky I am to be a part of this institution.

You have worked in several different roles during your time here. What major changes have you seen in the makeup of the visitors?

I’ve seen such an interesting change in the city, not only physically with the new Iowa Events Center, the Science Center, the Principal Riverwalk, and what’s happening out west, but also a change in the perception of ourselves, which is the most exciting change that I’ve seen. People are proud of where they’re from, and their growing enthusiasm and renewed pride in the city feeds upon itself.

How do you hope to see the Art Center thrive with this momentum?

There’s a feeling that we can do anything if you simply believe that you can. And the Art Center is going to be in the center of that, and that’s what I’m excited about. I want the Art Center to be a city center. I want it to be a center of vitality and a center of energy. I want it to be a marketplace, a meeting place and a place of engagement and where vision can take form. I want multiple perspectives to be presented. That’s what I want to see. I want to be a part of that synergy and to grow from that synergy, and we’re coming to that point.

What does the museum intend to do to encourage this change?

We will continue to partner with numerous organizations of young people, such as the 20/30 Club, the Des Moines Social Club and Young Professionals, that share pride in the city and foster involvement in and commitment to the city. In addition to our targeted audience of young professionals, we also have young families as another targeted goal at this point. Also, we are re-hanging the entire museum this year. There is nothing wrong with it as it is now, but we’re interested in people rediscovering their art center and to be reenergized with it and its artwork.

Can we expect any more non-traditional events like dodgeball, which was hosted here this past winter?

Always expect the unexpected. Recently, we had Van and Bonnie here from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. for a handwriting workshop. They set up shop in our auditorium to broadcast their morning program from here and we had about 70 people come in.

Dodgeball was a wildly successful event, and we had about 500 people show up on a Sunday for it. It’s something that you would never expect to be in an art center, and I know that for 75 percent of the people who came, that was their first time in the institution. How wonderfully innovative that we could make that responsively happen here in a way that wasn’t threatening to the work and provide that avenue of access.

As a father of two and the current leader of the Art Center, does that leave time for much else right now?

I try to spend as much time with my family (wife, Carrie, and daughters, ages 13 and 8) that I can. I’m an amateur bird watcher, gardener and hiker on the side, but there hasn’t been as much time for that lately.

Are you able to create any art pieces of your own these days?

Life is busy right now, and I hope to return to do more someday in the not-too-distant future. But working with artists and developing ideas and programs are very creative acts, so I don’t feel at a loss for creative outlets.